LPS PEAK Program Named 2026 Exemplary Gifted Program

Liberty Public Schools' gifted program earned the 2026 Missouri Exemplary Gifted Program Recognition.

The PEAK (personalized Enrichment and the Advancement of Knowledge) program is a place where students who are identified as gifted attend classes that further challenge their ability to think and grow. Elementary students attend PEAK once a week, and secondary students are placed in gifted-level core classes.

The recognition "honors gifted programs that demonstrate strong, intentional practices across multiple areas of programming, including identification and access, curriculum and instruction, program design and delivery, student assessment, professional development, family and community engagement, and continuous improvement."

"This achievement honors the passion, hard work, and dedication of our gifted teachers and the program coordinator, Melissa Englert. This team provides an enriching and engaging experience for eligible students that complements other programs that provide similar ones. We are so proud of the PEAK program in LPS!" Director of Special Programs Dr. Andy Schuerman said.

Liberty Public Schools conducts universal screening of all students in first, third, fifth and seventh grades to see if they score in the highest levels of certain benchmark tests. Scoring in the highest percentiles identifies students for further testing to determine if the gifted program is a good fit to enhance their learning experience.

The Gifted Association of Missouri said that the committee making the selection was especially impressed by the PEAK program's "comprehensive identification process, the strong continuum of services from elementary through high school, and the wide range of advanced learning opportunities provided to gifted students."

PEAK will be formally recognized at the 2026 Gifted Association of Missouri Conference.